Banana Crabtree Simon, a one-man play written by television snooker commentator turned playwright Dave Hendon, officially receives its world premiere tomorrow night (22 March 2018) at London’s Drayton Arms Theatre, where it runs for three weeks only. Find out more, including what audiences have been saying in previews – and then get booking!
Life is made of memories… What happens when they start to fade away?
Banana Crabtree Simon explores one man’s struggle with early onset dementia. The premiere production, which runs at London’s Drayton Arms Theatre from 19 March to 14 April 2018, with a press night on 22 March – is performed by CJ de Mooi and directed by Daniel Phillips.
David Hendon
Author David Hendon is well known to sports fans as a snooker commentator for channels including Eurosport. He made his playwriting debut in 2006 with The Bench, which he followed with From Me to 3792, The D-List, Eyes to the Wind, Sign of the Times and Home Time.
Hendon recalls his inspiration for Banana Crabtree Simon, his latest stage offering:
“This play came out of my desire to write about a family coping with dementia. The idea came from an exercise in a London writers’ club I’m in, run by Directors’ Cut Theatre Company. The exercise was to write a personal story four different ways, either from different characters’ points of view or using different forms and structures.
“I found this an affecting experience and resolved to write a play based on the subject matter. The protagonist in this monologue, Alan, is given three words to remember by his doctor to test his short-term memory: Banana, Crabtree and Simon.
“We learn about Alan’s life and family as his memories start to fade and he faces up to an uncertain future.”
Banana Crabtree Simon is presented by Jamie Chapman Dixon and Rigmarole Productions at Drayton Arms Theatre, where it’s stage-managed by Adam Brooks.
Rigmarole Productions was by Chapman Dixon in 2017 with an aim of introducing both new writing and larger-scale commercial work to the London and national stages. In addition to Hendon’s one-man play, Rigmarole’s current credits include the UK tour of Spamalot and Hope Mill Theatre’s revival of Pippin, now transferred to London’s Southwark Playhouse.
Production shots
CJ de Mooi in Banana Crabtree Simon
CJ de Mooi in Banana Crabtree Simon
Audience buzz
Banana Crabtree Simon – Curated tweets by MyTheatreMates
